The Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Suleiman Kawu, has urged legal practitioners in Nigeria to muster much courage in the fight against corruption in the judiciary.

He said based on the symbiotic working relationship between lawyers and judges, the former had the unique opportunity, moral and ethical responsibility to expose the few bad eggs in their midst.

Kawu who spoke in Ilorin at the 2015 dinner/award night organised by the Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) noted that judges' performance was significantly influenced by the conduct of lawyers.

"My comment is on the impression being created in the media that the Nigerian judiciary is abysmally corrupt. I must admit that judges are not saints and as human beings they are fallible which is why we have some few bad eggs in our midst.

"This fact however, is not sufficient ground for a sweeping and indiscriminate and sometimes criminally reckless castigation and condemnation of judges and the Nigerian judiciary as an institution.

"I say it loudly and without any apology that Nigeria is blessed with some of the best judges in the world and the Nigerian judiciary as an institution has always risen to the occasion in sanctioning erring judges and court officials whenever their misconduct is brought to the attention of the authority.

"Some of us are worried and concerned that the loud and increasing waves of unsubstantiated allegations of corruption against judiciary is creating negative impression about judges and eroding public confidence in the judiciary as an institution designed to enthrone the rule of law", he said.

Earlier, the NBA caretaker committee chairman, Sir Joseph Bamigboye (SAN) harped on the need for unity among members of the association.

"It is unlike us to malign, attack, defame and exhibit traits of indiscipline in order to make a point. We are learned gentlemen and must comport ourselves at all times as such, we are gold and God forbids that we rust. We must be above prevailing societal rot, and in our public and private conduct and utterances must be like Caesar's wife to be above board", he said.